HC Deb 27 May 1957 vol 571 cc35-6

3.30 p.m.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Derick Heathcoat Amory)

I beg to move, in page 2, line 31, at the beginning to insert: Subject to the following provisions of this part of this Act. This is a paving Amendment to the further Amendments in my name to leave out the latter part of subsection (4) of the Clause and to add a new subsection (6) to Clause 2. These Amendments are an attempt to improve the drafting of the Bill to make quite certain that we carry out the intention of Section 3 (2) of the Agriculture Act.

Subsection (4) of the Clause was intended to embody the substance of that subsection of the Agriculture Act, but as it is drafted it would safeguard only changes made in guaranteed prices. There could conceivably be a change in the basis which would affect the value of the guarantee even though it did not alter the actual guaranteed prices. I am thinking, for instance, of a change in the description of eligible produce. The new wording will make it absolutely certain that the intention and substance of Section 3 (2) of the Agriculture Act are carried out.

Mr. Frederick Willey (Sunderland, North)

We are obliged to the Minister for these Amendments. They improve the drafting of the Bill. I should like to use this occasion to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question. As the Clause covers a special review, apprehension might arise from the possible consequences of a special review. Ordinarily, as we have known special reviews, no difficulty will arise, because what has arisen has been substantial increases in the costs of production. From the 1947 Act, however, we see that there is a possibility of a special review if there should be some other special cause.

That is probably nothing more than cautionary draftsmanship, but I should like the right hon. Gentleman's assurance that there would not be resort to a special review except in such circumstances as resort has been made to special reviews in the past. That is to say, that in spite of this cautionary provision with regard to other special cause, the special price review would not be used to affect the further provisions which have been made in the Bill.

Mr. Amory

I assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no suggestion in the Bill to vary in any way the use or practice of the special review. As the hon. Gentleman knows, in our recent White Paper we described the new lines on which the special review procedure is to be operated in the future, but that is not in any way affected by the wording of the Clause. The hon. Gentleman can feel quite comfortable. There is no intention to restrict in any way the working of the special review.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 2, line 34, leave out from beginning to end of line 38.—[Mr. Amory.]